Saturday, 30 April 2016

MoD starts process to further liberalise FDI in defence

By Ajai
Shukla

Business Standard, 30th April 16

Just five
months after the government liberalised foreign direct investment (FDI) in
defence, by permitting global vendors 49 per cent stake in Indian joint
ventures (JVs) without the need for further permissions (i.e. “under the
automatic route”), the doors for foreign vendors are being opened wider.

So far, incremental
liberalisation has failed to attract significant foreign investment. On Friday,
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told parliament: “From August 2014 to February
2016, a total amount of Rs 112.35 lakhs has come into the country as FDI in
defence sector.”

In a fresh
bid to create a more liberal FDI environment, the ministry of defence (MoD) last
week invited defence industry representatives to discuss a briefing note it had
prepared on liberalisation. Business
Standard has reviewed the note.

The current
FDI policy, promulgated in November 2015, permits 49 per cent foreign
investment through the automatic route. For FDI above 49 per cent, up to 100
per cent, the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) must grant permission
on a “case-to-case basis”. However, lack
of clarity on what conditions apply has created uncertainty.

Now, to
bring in clarity on what “case-to-case” actually means, and thereby facilitate
decision-making on the grant of higher FDI, the MoD note stipulates four
conditions.

First, it mandates
that proposals for FDI above 49 per cent must be examined “on case-to-case
basis by a Standing Committee headed by Secretary (Defence Production), with
all stakeholders as members.”

Second, the
foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is required to “ensure a minimum
level of indigenous content as its value addition in India.” This is intended
to ensure that the joint venture (JV) does not serve as a front for simply importing
foreign-built equipment.

Third, the
MoD regulations for licensed defence industries, i.e. appointing resident
Indian citizens as chief security officer (CSO) and cyber information security
officer (CISO) “may also be put in for the proposals beyond 49% FDI from
national security imperatives (sic).”

Finally,
the new guidelines stipulate that the foreign OEM’s home country regulations,
which may continue to operate even for its units in India, do not prevent the
sale of its output in India. It says “to avoid such possibility, a clause of
usage of products manufactured by them in India by Indian Industry/Organisation
(sic) may also be retained.”

Foreign
OEMs, most recently Airbus Industries, have been demanding higher FDI limits
that would give them greater control over joint ventures that they establish in
India. They remain uncomfortable with the minority position that is imposed by
a 49 per cent cap.

Parrikar has viewed foreign OEMs’ demands sympathetically. At
the India Today Conclave in New Delhi on March 13, he said: “If there is a
company that has the technology and wants to make, for example, fighter planes
in India without any obligation on the part of the government, I am willing to
give them approval for 100 per cent investment in the venture.”

Business
Standard learns from three persons who attended the discussion in the MoD that
Indian private industry had reservations, but eventually came around to agree
on the benefits of more liberal FDI clearances.

However,
there were exceptions. Innovative Indian defence companies that develop new
systems have always opposed increasing FDI limits. In an op-ed article last
month, Ashok Atluri, who heads simulator design company, Zen Technologies,
argues that FDI limits need not be raised since the Indian defence market is
anyway too large for foreign vendors to ignore. He fears foreign OEMs will use
higher FDI limits to enter the market and then “kill” Indian competitors by
underpricing products until they establish a monopoly.

“The MoD
officials did not specifically say FDI limits would be raised to 74 per cent,
or to 100 per cent. But it seemed quite clear that more liberal conditions will
soon be announced”, said a defence industry chief executive.

The
government of India has traditionally been cautious on FDI in defence. In May 2001,
FDI up to 26 per cent was first allowed, subject to licensing. In August 2014,
that was raised to 49 per cent, subject to government clearance, with cabinet
clearance needed for FDI above 49 per cent, on a case-to-case basis. This also
permitted foreign portfolio investment up to 24 per cent.

The policy
imposed conditions on the JV. First, its management had to remain in Indian
hands, with an Indian chief executive and CSO. The company had to be
self-sufficient in product design and development, and be able to support the
defence equipment it manufactured all through its service life.

Business
Standard learns that several large investments are currently waiting for FDI
liberalisation. French warship and submarine builder, DCNS, is reportedly keen
to set up a fully owned venture to which high-end submarine technologies could
be transferred.

Separately,
Israeli company, Rafael, is reportedly keen on a joint venture with Pune-based
Kalyani Group. But Rafael wants 74 per cent holding in the JV.

3 comments:

Anonymous
said...

hello Ajai, I don't think any country will share technology with us just like that no matter how hard we try. why would anyone give their bread and butter to us just like that when they themselves spent decades developing them. however we must differentiate between technology and manufacturing, the former requires higher FDI limit than the latter but both of which requires incentives in this world of competition. but why do we always look at FDI in steps of 25 or 26%, why can't we have the limit at 51:49 with 51 going to the OEM and the rest to the local partner. it's ridiculous to expect someone to share everything with you without having a sense of control, clearly the proof of this lies in the fact that putting 49% has led to nothing in the last so many months. clearly by this cautious approach the outcome will be nothing and we will be crying for investments for decades to come....

This is arguably the stupidest decision ever taken by India's Defence Ministry. No military super-power in the world invites foreign entities to come and manufacture their weapon-systems on their soil. Not the US, not Russia, not UK, not Israel, and not France. Even China, Ukraine and South Korea have never allowed that.

Except India.

In the name of "liberalization" and "reforms" such idiocies must not be allowed. The govt. may claim that it shall "keep a watch" on the foreign company that operates here, but what can it possibly do? Every company worth its name is put on a tight leash by its home government, so that no sensitive technology is transferred. Even if its secrets are given (which are done if the tech is outdated), it goes into only those items agreed upon between the company and Govt. of India

I'm not against privatisation; in fact, given the monopoly of manufacturing PSUs like HAL, OFB and BEML, it might just be what the doctor ordered. However, these private entities must be made to partner with DRDO and NOT a foreign entity. This will achieve the twin objectives of privatisation of manufacturing, as well as the progress of indigenous technology. More importantly, by partnering with DRDO instead of some Israeli or American company, the Indian Jawan will never ever be at the mercy of a clutch of managers or a board of directors sitting in some foreign land. Their needs will not be bound by some legally fortified contract, or on geo-politics. Their needs will always be met right here in India. Whenever the need arises.

After all, isn't the spirit of the slogan "Make in India" self-reliance and Independence? Unfortunately, if this policy goes through, exactly the opposite will be the result.

No country is going share technology willingly case point irrespective of volumes : SU-30, Jaguar or even t-90 tanksNo country that imports so much will blindly import : see the kind of deal Australia got for submarines. India is alone in such matters. I do hope we go beyond into completely indigenous product life cycles with solid manufacturing technology to back up the product designed.Learn from Japan, Mitsubishi type 90 is 50 ton, it's successor is a lighter T10. Chinese have displayed even more steep learning curve with quick iterations of producers each better than previous one. These are not necessarily next gen products unlike what is practised in the west. We made INSAS , no new 'marks' in so many years.We made LCA, now HAL is talking of roping in SAAB. We make Arjun, no inductions.This continuous improvement thought process needs to be in the armed forces, not in DRDO that is a back end organisation.